Signal mechanism for electric railways.



R. D. BEATTY.

SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION rI'Lnn MAB.15, 1911.

Patented June 11, 1912.

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SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR ELEGTBIC RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION IILBD MAR. 15, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Ell WASHINGTON, D. c.

al -0 a M ROBERT 1). BEATTY, or CLEVELAND, 01-110.

SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ROBERT D. BEATTY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and use fulImprovement in Signal Mechanism for ElectricRailways, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

As indicated, it is for use in connection with electric railways thatthe present improvements in signaling apparatus are designed; moreoversaid improvements, at least in the specific form in which they areherein presented, are designed for use on overhead trolley systems.

The object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the kind inhand which can be utilized either for crossing or block signal purpose,and one in which the switch is entirely separate from the trolley lineso as to leave the latter clear of obstacles such as characterize mostprevailing forms of signal apparatus designed for use on electricrailways.

A further object is to simplify the apparatus by eliminating all relays,electro-magnets and the like from the system proper.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed outin the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :'Figure 1 is a front elevational view of animproved switch disposed in proper relation to the trolley linewherewith it-is designed tov cooperate; Fig. 2 is a side elevationalview of said switch; Fig. 3 is 'a similar front elevational view of .aportion of said switch showing the parts different operative.

' position; Fig. 4 is .a section thereof on the line 4 -4: Figs. 1 and2; Fig. 5 isa section of a detail of the switch on the line 5-5 Fig. 4;Fig. 6 represents a section ofan electric trolley railway-with myimprovedsig-r nal apparatus installed; and Fig. 7 is a Specification ofLetters Patent.

- drawings.

Patented June 11, 1912.

Application filedMarch 15, 1911. Serial No. 614,576.

designed to be suspended from a yard-arm or cross-wlre of any usualconstruction, such.

as is employed in supporting the trolley wires themselves. In thepresent instance an arm 1 has been selected as the supporting means,such arm being carried by a pole 2 (see Fig. 6) which may be locatedintermediately between, preferably half way, two of the poles 3 that areemployed to support the trolley wires 4. The latter are shown as two innumber in Fig. 1, inasmuch as this is the approved arrangement, one wirebeing utilized for cars going in one direction, and the other for carsgoing oppositely. It will be understood, however, that the apparatus isequally adapted for use with systems using a single trolley wire, aswith systems thus employing two.

The wires may or may not be supported from the arm or cross-wire thatsupports the switch, as desired, said wires being attached to clips 5 ofthe form that are regularly used in supporting them, and such clipsbeing in turn fastened to pins or bolts 6 vertically reciprocable inasuitable depending frame 7.. In case the wire became expanded, saidbolts may be relied on to afford support therefor even where they arenot normally thus utilized, since the bolt heads 8 are adapted to reston the cross member 9 of the frame. In a more taut or contractedcondition of the wires, the bolts are adapted to project above saidcrossmember and the wire thus left entirely unsupported at this point.

The switch mechanism proper is carried by a board or. plate 10 disposeddirectly above such cross member 9, and will in practice, of course, besuitably incased or housed, although no, such housing is shown in theSaid mechanism, as illustrated, comprises a vertically reciprocableplunger 11, the lower end of which is provided with a foot 12- that liestransversely of the bolts 0 orinother words, parallel with the framemember 9 in which said bolts are reciprocally "held. The latter are.respectively adapted, when raised to approximately the ley wire isemployed, the bolt carrying it- 'lnay be centrally disposed with respectto the plunger 11, and the size and form of the foot 12 becorrespondingly modified. A stop block 13 is disposed so as to engagethe upper end of the plunger and thus prevent 'its being raised beyond apredetermined oint. v Laterally adjacent to the aforesaid. plunger, is arotatable switch member 14 p 7 having a body of general circular formfrom with successive posts 17.

which projects an arm 15 carrying a resilient segmental con -act member16 that is adapted, upon successive movements of the switch memberthrough arcs of 90 degrees, to contact These posts and the pin 18,whereon member 14 is rotatable and with which it has electrical contact,are insulated from each other by reason of the insulating character ofthe board on which they are mounted, or in such other fashion as may befound most convenient. Rotation of said switch member is secured fromthe plunger 11 by means of a plnion 19 that engages with rack-teeth 20on said plunger,

. and that has a pawl-and-ratchet connection 24 with said member (seeFig. 5) while a second pawl-and-ratchet connection 27 between saidmember and the fixed base (see same figure) serves to prevent backwardrotation of the member upon the retraction of the plunger. Thebody-member of the switch, furthermore, carries a series of fourequidistantly spaced pins or lugs 21, where-- with a projection 22 onthe side of the ,plunger is adapted to engage, as shown in Fig. 3 in theraised position of said plunger. The effect of such engagement is tolock the member against further movement, such as might carry thecontact arm thereof beyond ..its desired position; in other words, thecontact arm is definitely positioned at each stopping point in thecourse of its movement by means of the stop pin and the ratchet. Thecontact pins 17', as also the central pin 18,

.have their rear ends formed into suitable binding posts 28 wherewithwires, or other conductors, may be connected as in the fashion now to beexplained.

In Fig. 7 whlch as has been explained,

illustrates diagrammatically the lay-out of system embodying the presentimproved apparatus, four switches of the kind just described arerepresented,such switches demarcating the limits of as many blocks, orsections, of the trolley line. As will be seen upon reference tothefigure just named, two oppositely disposed contact pins 17 of eachswitch are grounded; the two remaining pins are connected with thetrolley wire, or wires 41:, where, as in the present case, two of thelatter are employed; and the remaining or central, pins 18 are.connected in series with a plurality of translating devices 25 locatedbetween the successive switches. These translating devices may beincandescent lamps, as represented in said figure, or any other suitableapparatus such as semaphores, signal bells, or the like, and thesuccessive lines including them may be appropriatelyreferred to assignal lines. Assuming, then, a car 26 to be entering the first block atthe right, the position of the contact arms 15 in the several switchesmay be as-shown. As a result there will be a shunt circuit from thetrolley wires 4: through the signal lamps 25,01 other translatingdevices located in block A, the resistance of said circuit being soarranged that just the proper amount of current will flow to actuatesaid translating devices. Upon the passage of the car from block A toblock B, the effect will be to advance the contact arm 15, in the secondswitch to the position shown in dotted lines, whereby the flow ofcurrent through the signal shunt circuit just referred to is cut off andsuch fiow established through the signal circuit in the next block, thatis block B. A similar result follows the entry of the car in the nextsucceeding block, and so on. Moreover, the position of the switch armsas left is such that a car following later on will similarly set thesignals in the successive blocks through which it passes, thus closingthe same against the entry therein of a car from either direction, asalso setting in operation any alarm bells, semaphores or the like, suchas may be used for various purposes along the section of the line inquestion. Not only will; the apparatus thus respond when cars are movingin the direction assumed in the foregoing descriptiom but should the carshown, for example in block A, instead of advancing, return into thepreceding block, the contact arm 15- of the first switch will restorethe circuit connections that then existed, although it actually contactswith a different contact pin 17.

'From the foregoing description not only will the operation of theswitch mechanism be fully apparent, but also that of the combinedapparatus constituting the system. It Will be seen that the severalswitches .will' stay set, even though the current in the trol-. ley linefail, so that immediatelyupon the restoration of the current, the'sameconditi'on of signals. will prevail as before. This 1 is' a mostimportantconsideration in the operation of trolley lines where amomentary or even more extensive interruption of the current, is not ofinfrequent occurrence. Not only is the apparatus thus independent of thecurrent in the setting and releasing of the switches, but no relays, orelectromagnets, are required in connection with such switches as in theprevailing more complicated constructions.

While the mechanism chosen for illustrative purposes is designed moreparticularly for use in connection with overhead trolley lines, theadaptability of such mechanism to other kinds of electric railwaysshould be readily apparent.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of abase; a plurality of fixed contacts on said base; a movable switchmember adapted to successively close with said contacts; means formoving said switch member, including a rack operatively connected withsaid member, said rack being adapted to be reciprocated by externalmeans; and a stop carried by said rack adapted to engage said member andretain the same against forward movement.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a base; aplurality of fixed contacts circularly disposed on said base; arotatable switch member adapted to successively close therewith; meansfor rotating said switch member from one contact to another, said meansincluding a pinion co-axial with said member and having pawl-and-ratchetconnection therewith;

a rack engaging said pinion, a stop limiting the advance movement ofsaid rack; and a second stop carried by said rack and adapt- 3. Inmechanism of the character described, the combination with a trolleywire; of a base supported thereover; a fixed contact on said base; arotatable switch member on said base adapted to close with said contact;and means for rotating said member, said means including a reciprocablerack operatively connected with said member and adapted to bereciprocated by the raising of said wire incidentally to the pas sage ofa trolley therealong.

4. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with atrolley wire; of a base supported thereover; a fixed contact on saidbase; a rotatable switch member on said base adapted to close with saidcontact; and means for rotating said member, said means including apinion co-axial with said member and having pawl-and-ratchet connectiontherewith, and a rack engaging said pinion, said rack being arranged tobe reciprocated by the raising of said wire incidentally to the passageof a trolley therealong.

Signed by me this 2nd day of March, 1911.

ROBERT D. BEATTY. Attested by ANNA L. GILL, J N0. F. OBERLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

